Queen of Gorgeousness

The Ugly Duckling Transforms

Chapter Two - The Ugly Duckling Transforms

Returning to Hogwarts felt both right and wrong to Hermione. So much had been lost in the war, people hadn't just died here but parts of the Castle were left in crumbled ruins as well. Hogwarts still wasn't completely rebuilt but enough work had been done to allow students to return. As it was there were less students inhabiting Hogwarts than there ever had been before. It was unsurprising really.

There was talk of making a 'hall of heroes' that honoured all those who had died. Hermione thought that to be a wonderful idea.

Hermione currently found herself in Potions wondering if the curse that used to lie on the DADA teacher had been transferred to Potions because this teacher was an absolute terror. He didn't seem to know what he was doing half the time and Hermione was of the opinion that McGonagall must have been desperate to have hired him.

At least Hermione was proficient enough in potions that this unfortunate Professor wouldn't hinder her study.

It was bad fortune however, that Hermione still had to share a table with Harry and Ron. The tension here was undeniably thick and not even sarcastic comments made by the Slytherin's around them could cut through it.

Though neither Harry or Ron were talking to her, that didn't mean that they weren't trying to get a look at what she was doing. With the exception of the help Harry got from Snape's book in sixth year, both boys were horrendously bad at Potions. It didn't matter because they weren't her responsibility anymore and the teachers would finally realize just how bad they were they saw how their performances dropped. No more would there be free rides just for being Harry Potter or the Weasley that helped him defeat Voldemort.

Hermione snorted, people always seemed to conveniently forget that Ron had walked out on Harry and herself during the hunt for horcruxes. Ron was always going to come before Hermione and frankly she was sick of it. Now there was no more danger looming before her, why should she put herself in the firing line just to be shot down again.

BANG! WHIZZ!

Ron's cauldron erupted sending purple fumes everywhere. Students panicked and screamed as several were hit with the sickly green gunk. Ron as usual was quick to blame anyone over himself and turned to Hermione shouting and screaming at her. Hermione felt equal parts of outrage and resignation and would have answered back had she not taken the full brunt of the explosion. She was covered in the sickly green gunk, tears were streaming from her eyes and she was suffering from a lot of pain. Students fled the classroom and the teacher stood rooted to the spot, shock etched on his face.

"Shut up Weasel, don't blame Granger for your shitty mistake," said Adrian Pucey, this year's Head Boy.

"Everyone knows you're shit at Potions Weasley, you only survived this long because of Granger and now she's no longer helping you we're all at risk of exploding cauldrons. Even Neville is a better Potioneer than you," said Parkinson.

Ron huffed in anger, the tips of his ears turning red, "Why are you defending her? You're Slytherin's and you hate scum like her."

Hurt that Ron had referred to her as scum, Hermione felt a little worse for wear. She was almost collapsed on the floor from the pain she as in and hoped that someone would come to her rescue soon.

"The only scum I see here is you Weasel, oh and Potter over there. You hate Slytherin's but we would never treat a friend this way," said Blaise Zabini.

"You don't know what you're talking about," replied Harry.

"We do. We know of your little happy vision and we know that Granger didn't want that. We know you cut her out because she didn't fit with your happy ending," said Marcus Flint.